Clermont, Fla. - March 12, 2023 - The Springfield College softball team kicked off the 2023 season with a pair of victories on Sunday morning, besting Carroll, 5-3, on some late-game heroics before cruising past Fredonia, 8-0, in six innings.
Springfield will play a doubleheader against Geneseo at 9 am on Monday.
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Springfield 5, Carroll 3
Carroll got on the board in the bottom of the first as they produced a two-out double with runners on the corners, and tacked on another run in the third as they took advantage of a lead off single, which would eventually score on a one-out double.
Springfield would use the long ball to get on the scoreboard in the fourth inning as Kristen Acocella (Redding, Conn.) led off by taking a 3-2 pitch over the left center fence before three batters later, Callie Gendron (Berlin, Conn.) hammered a two-run shot to center, scoring Michaela Ponticello (Gloversville, N.Y.). Carroll was able to even the game up in the fifth on an error, but Springfield would come up with some timely hits in the seventh to earn the win.
Mackenzie Doyle (Glocester, R.I.) opened up the frame with a base knock and moved into scoring position following a sacrifice bunt. Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) came up in a big spot, driving in what would prove to be the game winning run on a single, before Breannah McCann (San Diego, Calif.) added an insurance run with a run-scoring single of her own.
Gillian Kane (New Canaan, Conn.) earned the victory as she scattered six hits for the Pride.
Springfield 8, Fredonia 0 (6 innings)
Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) was impressive in her collegiate debut as she scattered three hits of shutout ball while striking out six. She also accounted for two of the Pride's 10 hits, while both Michaela Ponticello (Gloversville, N.Y.) and Maddy LaValle (Meriden, Conn.) each drove in a pair of runs.
The Pride would scratch across a run in the first as Kristen Acocella (Redding, Conn.) plated Alli Olsen (Ridgewood, N.J.), who got on base after being hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position following a stolen base.
Springfield would then blow the game open in the fifth as they scored five runs off four hits. Ponticello got things started with a run-scoring base knock to score Acocella before Carissa Pecchia (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and LaValle drilled back-to-back doubles to make it a 5-0 game. LaValle would later score on a wild pitch to close out the scoring in the fifth.
The game would conclude in the sixth inning as Springfield added two more runs after loading up the bases with just one out. Ponticello drew a walk to score Mackenzie Doyle (Glocester, R.I.) and Breannah McCann (San Diego, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to force in Acocella.
